Ihave to find a way to make sure that pdf files posted on our website are not downloaded. This is not possible as they DO have to be read by the users. The point is to prevent them from copying them (I know the user right management transfers to the copy as well but that won’t help) the only solution I can come up with is a way to make the file simply delete itself after a given amount of time from the download.
Once it can "see" it is no longer on its home system it would begin a count-down, say 2 hours. That would be more than adequate for someone to read the content and make a decision. Longer than that, if they are that slow to read, they would just have to re-open it.
I know that to even open the file for reading it is downloaded by adobe reader into a temp internet file. So the “clock” would also start as soon as they started reading since that in effect is taking the file off of its Home system long enough to be read. That isn’t a problem but leaving it there would be just as much as allowing an actual download
Opening the file already requires a password. So they have to start over. The main intent is, as I said, to prevent them from literally clicking to download the file.
Nothing in this world is perfect but surely there is some way to come close?

Solution 2

It is now even more problematic.
They want me to add code to the webpage to prevent the Windows
< Open Save Cancel > bar from popping up as well as disabling right click.

I know all the arguments against the disable right click on the page andI agree but the page is only used by the group of people who want me to make it "not work"
The same people want the No < open-save-cancel> bar.
They just want whoever clicks the file to have it open with adobe reader (or acrobat)
and not have the ability to save it. The timestamp would work if I can figure out how to timestamp the issue of the certificate at the time it is downloaded.
That is a good reply.

I even have the coding to do the right click and stop the but not enough skills to get it to work.

Where is a good place to find an coder for hire for remote coding assistance>?

First of all: indifferent how the acrobat reader plugin gui is shown, it downloads the file and displays it (this can be done asynchronous, but does not matter). This is the key point: the file is downloaded, thus it can be intercepted as http traffic, or found as temporary browser file.

1) To view the file in a browser or outside a browser, the client will ALWAYS download the file.
2) You have no control over the security in the PDF readers to remove the Save buttons and you shouldn't have that authorization.
3) You need to explain to your client that what they ask for is technically impossible. Anything you make publicly available from the site is able to be downloaded and saved regardless.